Democratic accountability is a key principle for UNISON Scotland. So it's no wonder we have serious concerns over the Scottish Government's plans for social care integration, which involves the transfer of services from local democratic control to the NHS, with its limited democracy.

The issues surrounding social care integration are wide-ranging and complex and this edition of Council Connections highlights some of our concerns. You can also read about the thousands of council workers across Scotland who took a stand for fair pay as part of our Fair Pay campaign.

Warnings over social care integration

The Scottish Government is consulting over its implementation plans for health and care integration. It claims these plans are not a centrally driven, large scale reorganisation. However, to many in local government they look like a significant centralisation of powers away from democratic accountability.

The proposed integrated budgets will take around 15% of council funding away from the responsibility of elected councillors and hand them over to a Jointly Accountable Officer and a board that councils will not have a majority on. Ministers will also have the power of direction and accountability will be through an NHS style performance management approach.

Workers take a stand for fair pay

Local government workers across Scotland took part in a day of action to mark fair pay day. Thousands of Scotland's council workers called on their local councils to implement the living wage of £7.20 for all staff - a commitment made by both Labour and SNP prior to the election - and to put an end to the ongoing pay freeze. Read more.

Fair pay through procurement - there is ALWAYS a way

A letter from European Commissioner Michel Barnier to MSP Alex Neil last month, said introducing a living wage for private sector workers engaged on public contracts is "unlikely" to comply with EU law. Europe may feel that such a clause in a procurement process is anti-competitive, but surely it's for Mr Neil to decide what constitutes best value for our taxpayers' money? After all he was elected by those taxpayers - unlike the commissioner - on a pledge of a living wage.

A living wage is intended simply to provide a level of pay that adequately allows workers to provide for themselves and their families - and this should be the right of workers throughout the public service workforce, including the private and voluntary sector. Read more.

A bad day for policing in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament has concluded its consideration of the Police and Fire Reform Bill, which centralises services in Scotland and removes them from local authority control.

The main, arguably only, justification for centralisation is cost saving. As Audit Scotland has warned, savings from public service reorganisation are far from guaranteed. In addition to the loss of vat exemption - which will cost the taxpayer £30-£40m each year - and the loss of up to 3,000 police staffs, the policy also opens the door to the future privatisation of police services. All in all, a bad day for policing in Scotland. Read more.

Councillors must make the case for local democracy and service delivery, says UNISON's Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby

The forthcoming referendum on the future of Scotland is one that concerns all of us and the debate is one that councillors should be deeply involved in. It is in the interests of very few for this to be a binary yes/no issue framed around concepts of sovereignty and citizenship, certainly not for those who care about local government.

More productive would be a searching debate that seeks to work out where power should lie for it to deliver most effectively for people in Scotland. For this to happen, councillors must not see this as a debate happening over their head - but one that they participate in for the benefit of the communities they represent. Because whatever the result, there will be change; if not independence then new powers or more use of existing powers in Holyrood. And this is before we consider what might be included as part of an enhanced devolution package attached to any second question.

It is in the interests of all of us; councillors, workers and service users, that local government, its role and value, is flagged up at this time. If councillors are prepared to participate and make the case for local democracy and service delivery  it can help change the terms of the debate that we will have, from an arid and unproductive argument about identity, into one based around the sort of Scotland we want to live in.

Both UNISON and the STUC are holding consultation meetings aimed putting content into the Constitutional debate. You can read more here.

Our money - our right to know

The Scottish Government is currently amending the Freedom of Information Act. Sadly, it seems that ministers aren't as keen to 'follow the money' as we are, with the Scottish Government saying it won't even consider that "until the economic situation improves". We disagree - when money is tight it is even more important that spending is subject to maximum scrutiny. The principle is simple: our money - our right to know. Read more.

Financially illiterate drivel from 'tax dodgers' alliance

UNISON has called on the so-called Taxpayers' Alliance to get its facts straight after the shady, right wing, low tax pressure group attacked local government pensions. Again. The truth is, payments into the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in Scotland last year were more than £299.944 million MORE than being paid out to pensioners. Read more.

Public Works
UNISON Scotland's major campaign to protect public services

Protect our pensions
UNISON Scotland's campaign to secure fair and decent pensions for all

UNISON’s Local Government Network is for councillors and others with an interest in local government. Our regular e-newsletter, Council Connections, brings all of the latest news and information on what’s happening across local government in Scotland. If you are receiving this in error, or your email address is changing, please contact UNISON Scotland’s Bargaining and Campaigns team on 0141 342 2850. If you wish to unsubscribe to this email please reply to this email with ‘unsubscribe’in the subject heading.

Want more information? Visit our website for comprehensive news, information and updates on what is happening across Scotland’s public services.

UNISON, UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 6RX. Tel: 0845 355 0845.